Western Kentucky University campus transforms

Western Kentucky University’s campus in Bowling Green has changed a lot over the past 10 years. The addition of more than 20 campus dining locations, a 14,0000-square-foot addition to the student fitness center and several other projects are some easily visible improvements.

But over those same 10 years perhaps the biggest improvement is something people see daily: WKU’s energy policy and infrastructure.

“We have been able to really reduce our energy consumption, starting in about 2008, from using about 15 kilowatts per hour per square foot,” said Bryan Russell, a former WKU student and current employee. “We’re now down to about 11 kilowatts per square foot in a building. At the same time we’ve actually increased our gross square footage of the university by 774,000 gross square feet.”

Russell said that’s kept WKU’s utility budget from growing at a rapid pace.

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KPPC is Kentucky's primary resource to help business, industries and other organizations develop environmentally sustainable, cost-saving solutions for improved efficiency. KPPC is based at the University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering.